The turn signals do blink on my '73 Omega, but very slowly. would this be fixed by changing the flasher unit or is that only needed if they don't work at all?

 

A new flasher will fix it. There are two of them. One for the flashers and one for the turn signals. I always get them confused as to what one controls which.

 

ck for BOB's

Burned out Bulbs

 

Check for the right bulbs. If the car is supposed to use say an 1157 bulb, and somebody put a "modern" bulb in, it will change the flash rate. Check the flasher#, there were a LOT of different flashers in the 60's + 70's. A car that had 4 tail lights used a different flasher than a car that had 2 tail lights. Finally...the cars today in general flash faster than the old cars did even when new.

 

I pretend to know absolutely nothing about 70's era rides. However, in reading this thread it raised a few questions for me. No one asked is the "slow flashing" just started or has been chronic. It seems to me that might matter, as if it is a recent occurence than the likelihood of it being a flasher problem is diminished?

 

Yeah...this is absolutely correct Dave. That was my thought, too...it's a real common prob on these forums. You want to help, but they don't give you enough info. Then...later a person says...I just bought the car, or it happened yesterday, or it happened after I put new bulbs in, or whatever. There is another post at the bottom of this page with a similar problem. It's true we are just throwing out possible solutions. It's like talking to a doctor on the phone, and pointing to a place on your body, and saying it hurts "here". But not saying where or when it started!

 

A bulb or connection problem is most often a cause for faster flashing. In my experience, Every time I EVER had a slow flash was because the flasher was bad. I did not ask any questions because my experience said the most obvious. Maybe something else can cause it but I have never seen it and I have seen lots of light problems. The flasher is so simple to change it is the first thing I would do.

 

That's crazy, you can't just discard that genuine OEM flasher and put witness marks on the terminals of a new one and RUIN THE PATINA of all that stuff plus the wires!!!

:-)

 

In that case you need to find another 73 Omega with a good flasher and swap them out, lol

 

Thanks for the help, sorry I didn't supply additional info on the first post. I've had problems with the turn signals from when I purchased the car a year ago. from slow flashing, to no flashing on one side, to the left arrow on the instrument panel stick on with no flashing, even when the turn signals were not on!

I've swapped out some bulb with new ones, swapped out other bulbs with each other, and they all work.

The other day when the left arrow on the instrument panel was stuck on without the blinkers being activated, I noticed the left front marker light was dark. Three days later when I drove the car again, it was back to blinking, but slowly and I didn't yet attempt any repairs.

I believe the flasher on the fuse box is the emergency one, where is the other one located?

Plus my back up lights have never worked. I posted that on another string but no assistance was given.

Thanks for all the assistance!

 

The other flasher should be hanging loose around the steering column under the dash.

Pat

 

X2, it's usually just tucked on top of the lower dash lip, but some cars have a bracket there to hold it. Now that you have given more info...it sounds like the turn signal switch in the column to me. That's where my bet would be. That's assuming the bulbs are right, the bulb sockets are clean, grounds are good. Change the flasher 1st, it's worth a try. Wait for a 2nd opinion. That's good info you added.

 

Based on your recent info, X2 on the turn signal switch.... But it can't hurt to change the flasher first since that would be the easiest and cheapest test before moving on with the problem....

 

Suggestions:
Ensure bulbs are good.
Verify wiring is not broken.
Verify neutral safety switch is adjusted properly.

Sometimes the R position on the column doesn't line up correctly with the electrical contact in the NSS, so the linkage needs to be adjusted.

On my floor shift car, I can move the collar on the steering wheel back and forth slightly and cause the backup lights to come on and go off. You could try to move your shifter lever back and forth between Park and Neutral (with the engine off) and see if the backup lights come on briefly as it passes through the Reverse range.

 

This is good advice! The 2 problems are most likely unrelated even though they are both light problems. They use different switches + wiring for the 2 systems.

 

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I'll check it out this weekend and see if I can make any progress.

 

Thanks again everyone, I changed out the flasher and it did the trick! FYI in case anyone else is looking for that flasher in an Omega, I found it in the middle of the dash, held in place by a C shaped piece of metal that came off what looked like the mid-support metal frame of the dash.

Kenneth, I tried your trick on the reverse lights and didn't notice the reverse lights flash on. Does anyone think I might just need to replace that neutral safety switch? I was also having an issue where it's a 50/50 chance that I need to giggle the floor shifter to get the car to start as it's not recognizing that it's in park. Perhaps both issues are all about that switch?

 

Both issues are probably related. There are 4 or 6 wires on your switch. Two purple for the starter interlock, two for the back up lights, and not sure if your car is equipped with this - possibly two for the seat belt buzzer. Jumper the two for the back up lights and see if they come on, if they do then either its out of adjustment or the switch is no good.

 

How can you possibly keep all that info in your noodle? That's just amazing! You never cease to surprise.

 

just a quick update. While the new flasher did the trick on the slow blinkers, I did drive the Omega at night a couple of days later and when I turned on the headlights, that is when the left arrow on the instrument panel lit up without the blinkers being turned on. after further inspection, that must be an indicator for when a bulb is out as I had both side markers bulbs out.

 

Regarding the neutral switch, I did get a new one but not sure how to install it. at first I thought it was a simple plug and mount but I guess there is a way to make adjustments?

 

yes, you adjust the nss by using a .090" gauge pin(or equivalent drill bit) inserted through a hole in the nss. this is done with the car in neutral on a column shift car or park on a console shift car. set parking brake/block wheels, and engine not running(key in unlock position).


bill

 

Thanks Bill, I'll give that a try this weekend.

on another note, I figured out why the left arrow on the instrument panel blinker was lit up when I turned on the headlights even though the blinker was not activated. it wasn't a marker light bulb after all.

I pulled the front blinker bulb, (which appeared to be working fine), and noticed some corrosion on the bottom of the bulb between the two points, as well as a little in the socket.

after taking a small wire brush to the bulb and socket, reinserting the bulb, everything worked perfect! I guess with the corrosion making contact between the two points, it was shorting out and making the other bulbs operating weird, and lighting up the left blinker indicator?

Thanks again to everyone that offered assistance.

 

re: turn signal issue
yup, corrosion deposits act as a conductor... glad you figured it out.


bill